Cullowhee, N.C. - Alan Beck went 3-for-4, including a two-run home run, with three RBI and three runs scored to lead Western Carolina to a 14-9 win over VMI Sunday afternoon at Childress Field/Hennon Stadium. The win gives the Catamounts (27-14, 16-5 SoCon) a weekend series sweep over the Keydets (14-21, 8-10) and keeps Western in first place in the Southern Conference.
For the second consecutive day, each WCU starter had at least one hit as the Cats pounded out 18 on the day. Wayne Kilmer joined Beck with a three-hit performance (3-for-5), while Todd Roper, Todd Buchanan, Rod Goldston, Denver Edick and Matt Nelson had two hits each.
The Catamounts took an early lead, scoring four runs on four hits in the first inning. Kilmer began with a sharpe single to right. Beck followed with a bloop single, which the VMI right fielder bobbled allowing Kilmer to score. Buchanan put runners on second and third with a double to right and Goldston followed with a two-run single to center. Goldston would end up on third after a walk to Edick and a fielder's choice by Chris Davis. Goldston then scored as part of a double steal.
VMI cut its deficit to one (4-3) in the top of the second. With one out, Justin Briggs (Rustburg, Va. / Rustburg) and Andy Barden (Chesterfield, Va. / Manchester) got back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners. Jon Wade (Marietta, Ga. / Harrison) followed with an RBI single, once again putting runners on the corners. Ben Rand (South Boston, Va. / VCU) made it three straight hits with an RBI double down the left field line. Matt Smith (Chesapeake, Va. / Great Bridge) capped the scoring in the inning with an RBI ground out to second.
The Cats put four on the board in the fifth to take an 8-3 lead. Roper started with a one-out single. Kilmer followed with a bunt single. On the play, Roper moved to third, then scored on a throwing error. After a walk to Beck, Buchanan delivered a two-run double to right-center. Buchanan later scored on Edick's infield single.
VMI scored one in the top of the sixth, making the score 8-4, but threatened to score more. Briggs and Jason Annis (Placentia, Calif. / Valencia) had back-to-back singles and Briggs later scored on Wade's single through the left side. WCU relief pitcher Joe Camac loaded the bases after walking Smith, but Brandon Massenburg (Prince George, Va. / Prince George) grounded out to end the inning.
Western answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth, giving the Cats a 10-4 lead. Nelson got a leadoff single and scored on an RBI double by Brian Sigmon. A single by Roper put runners on the corners and Beck plated Sigmon with single through the left side. WCU made it an 11-4 game with a single run in the bottom of the seventh. Goldston had a leadoff double, giving him 62 for his career to tie for second on the WCU and fifth on the SoCon all-time lists. Edick followed with a single, putting runners on the corners. Davis drove home Goldston with a sacrifice fly to center.
The Keydets cut into their deficit with two runs in the top of the eighth, making the score 11-6. Annis and Barden strung together back-to-back hits and later scored on Smith's single up the middle. However, Western answered with three runs in the bottom of the eighth. Beck provided two of the runs with a two-run homer to left. The blast was Beck's 11th of the season, tying teammate Buchanan for the SoCon lead. With one out, Edick walked and was lifted for pinch runner Carlos Garcia. After a Davis single, Garcia would score on a throwing error by the Keydet third baseman.
The Keydets tacked on three runs in the top of the ninth to provide the final margin. With two outs, Briggs singled to short and Annis reached on a throwing error. Barden followed with a three-run blast to center, his fourth of the season. After a single by Wade, pinch hitter Elliott Erbe (Portsmouth, Va. / Western Branch) flew out to left to end the game.
Brandon McDowell struggled early, but settled down nicely to improve to 4-2 on the season. In VMI's three-run second, he allowed four hits, the only safeties he allowed in the game. Overall, he surrendered four hits, three runs and one walk in five complete innings with three strikeouts.
WCU pitchers held VMI's first three hitters to 0-for-14 on the day. However, the next four batters combined to go 11-for-20. Briggs was 3-for-5, Annis 2-for-5, Barden was 3-for-5 and Wade was 3-for-5. Smith and Barden drove in three each and Wade brought home two runners. Jeremy Harper (Seneca Rocks, W.Va. / Pendleton County), who came in with a 1.96 ERA, took the loss, falling to 2-2. He allowed 11 hits, 10 runs and two walks with four strikeouts.
Western Carolina will close out its current seven-game homestand with a pair of games versus Georgia State this week. The Catamounts and Panthers will play at 7 pm on Tuesday (April 22) and 3 pm on Wednesday. VMI will travel to Richmond, Va. and play Virginia Commonwealth at 7 pm on Tuesday.
Courtesy of the Western Carolina Sports Information Department
